Paraiba tourmaline is a copper-bearing tourmaline. The name comes from the location where the stone was discovered : in the Brazilian state of Paraiba (city of Sao Jose da Batalha). This fine gemstone had been found in 1989 by the miner Heitor … Continue reading →

Ila Collection was founded by the Indian brother and sister Vikas and Ila Sodhani in 2007. They draw their inspiration from Indian culture, designs, architecture, ornaments and craftmanship. For 8 years, Ila had been designed high-end diamond jewelry with her … Continue reading →

Founded in 2003 by designer Irene Neuwirth and business partner Tracy Stoll, the brand is an independent fine jewelry company based in Los Angeles. Irene Neuwirth creates unique, modern and sophisticated jewels decorated with stunning gemstones. Her style is immediately recognizable : superb colorful gemstones, geometric shapes, mix of different forms and colours, use of gold, large jewels…

Recognized as a leading jewelry label in the United States, her jewels are regularly in fashion magazines like Vogue, Elle and Harper’s Bazaar. Celebrities such as Angelina Jolie, Halle Berry, and Reese Witherspoon are become admirers of the brand. Recognized by her peers, Irene Neuwirth won the Town & Country Couture Design Editors’ Choice Award (2006) and was finalist for the coveted CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund (2008). Besides, she joined in 2009, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) as member.

Alice Cicolini is a British jewelry designer inspired by Indian designs and using the Meenakari traditions. She had been Director Arts & Culture for the British Council in India. She used the sacred architecture and patterns of the Silk Route as an inpiration for her jewelry. All the jewels are handmade in India ; the studio of Kamal Kumar Meenakar uses the meenakari enameling traditions. The jewels are real pieces of art : patterns are engraved into 23.5 carat gold to the reverse of the jewels and colored with enamel. The jewels are decorated with gemstones.

Alice Cicolini’s work pays a tribute to the Meenakari jewelry. “Enameling or Meenakari is the art of colorings or decorating a metal surface by attaching or fusing pieces of different mineral substances, over it.” “Enamel is a combination of ground, pigmented glass and metal, heat fired into the recesses created by the engraving and then polished with agate stone.” “More commonly, enamel is applied to the reverse of jewels, where the precious stones such as diamonds, sapphires, rubies and emeralds are privileged at the forefront.”

Amethyst belongs to the macrocrystalline branch of the quartz group of minerals. The amethyst’s colour varries from purple and violet to pale red-violet. Its colour comes from the iron and aluminium impurities. Furthermore, this fine gemstone is found mainly in Brazil but also “in Bolivia, Canada, India, Madagascar, Mexico, Myanmar (Burma), Namibia, Russia, Sri Lanka, United States (Arizona), Uruguay and in Zambia”. Besides, Amethyst is a symbol of sobriety : in Ancient Greece, the name amethyst meant “not drunk”.